Bikes just might be the perfect mural-viewing vehicle. (Photos by Eric Thornburg/No.Lens.Cap)

Sunday’s Mural Ride had a great turnout with about 100 people showing up to see a few of Portland’s many intriguing public paintings.

The ride was led by veteran Portland bike fun instigator Meghan Sinnott and local artist and photographer Mel Christy.

Our Pedalpalooza photographer Eric Thornburg tagged along and captured the vibe. Here’s what it looked like through his lens…

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— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland needs your support.

Bike camps teach riding skills, bike maintenance, safety, and friendship.
(Photo: Nat Shreffler for Community Cycling Center)

Portland has a wide variety of summer bike camps: Everything from learn-to-ride camps that ease kids onto two wheels to camps that teach advanced riding and repair skills. You might think it’s late in the game to find a spot in one of them, but most area bike camps still have spaces in some sessions.

My son attended his favorite bike camp back when he was five. He decided he wanted “bike racing camp” instead of “regular bike camp” and I found a new camp offered at a bike coaching facility. They started each morning of the week watching Danny MacAskill bike trick videos before pedaling off via multi-use path to a park where the instructor had stashed an obstacle course in the bushes. In addition to the emphasis on riding and tricks, he came home with more art projects from this camp (we still have a precious old bike cranks and duct tape creation) than from the larger, more traditional bike camps he’s attended.

Our Family Biking column is sponsored by Clever Cycles.

➤ Read past entries here.

I’ve called around to find out which bike camps still have spots. Check out my list below. If you’re aware of any camps I’ve missed, please let me know in the comments and I’ll update the post. (Note: all grades reflect the campers’ grade in the fall.)

Community Cycling Center
$360-$425 per week

Spots are available in Cruisers (grades 5 and 6), Freewheelers (grades 7 and 8), Food Cart Seekers (grades 7 and 8), Girls Mechanics (grades 7 and 8), and Voyager (NEW! grades 9 and 10).

Community Cycling Center’s Bike Camp enters its 18th year this summer. At camp, our goals are to:
➤ Develop the skills of youth in a fun, safe, and supportive environment
➤ Provide opportunities for cooperative learning and decision making in a team environment
➤ Develop self-confidence and enthusiasm for the bicycle
➤ Connect youth with Portland’s cycling infrastructure

CCC is also partnering with Hacienda CDC, Urban Nature Partners PDX, Home Forward, and Catholic Charities to bring Bike Camp to the Cully neighborhood, New Columbia neighborhood, and McCoy Village this summer thanks to Metro’s Nature in Neighborhoods grant and City of Portland’s Expanding Opportunities for Youth grant. Through these community bike camps, participants will attend a week of bike camp at no cost and receive a bike, helmet, and lock at the completion of their week.

— Learn more at communitycyclingcenter.org.

Lumberyard Indoor Bike Park
$425 for full day per week, $49 for half day per day

Lumberyard’s website has current availability listed, with quite a few camps still with room.

With early drop-off, snacks provided, aftercare available, free park access with guardian supervision the rest of the day, and 70,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space to shred, Lumberyard is sure to entertain (and tire out!) your lil’ shredder. The Greenhorns Half-Day Summer Camps for balance bikers on Mondays and new pedalers on Fridays are fun for the aged 3-6 set not yet ready for a full day or full bike park. Rental bikes (as well as rental balance bikes) are available for camps, too.

— Learn more at lumberyardmtb.com.

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OBRA Junior Track Camp
$150 for three days

Juniors aged 10-18 with OBRA licenses can attend a track camp June 27-29. Kids 13 and up will camp overnight at Alpenrose Velodrome while 10-12 year olds will join for the daytime activities. The weekend includes a shred session and pizza party at Lumberyard on Sunday. Those who own track bikes should bring them, but the camp fee includes track bike rental if needed as well as Lumberyard bike rental.

— Learn more at obra.org.

OMSI
$305.00 member/$382.00 non-member per week

As of this writing Bike PDX for grades 4 and 5 has space for the week of July 29th. This class is taught by Community Cycling Center’s fun instructors and meets at OMSI for 4-15 mile explorations of the area around the museum. Extended care is available and bikes can be stored at OMSI overnight. “Take science on the road!”

— Learn more at OMSI.edu.

Pedalheads
$169 1.5 hours, $249 half day, $439 full day per week

With four locations around Portland and one in Beaverton, Pedalheads has a spot for you. From three- and four-year-old balance bikers with 1.5-hour-long skill building through games and obstacle courses to road and mountain bike classes for the age six and up more experienced set and everything in between.

— Learn more at pedalheads.com.

Trackers Earth
$235 half day per week

Learn to Bike: Road Rovers has some spots available at all three Trackers locations. This class is for kids entering kindergarten and 1st grade who are just learning to ride. The class is just 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., but it’s action packed with personalized instruction, crafts, and games. Includes a bike to use if the camper doesn’t already have one.

— Learn more at trackerspdx.com.

Learning to throw their bikes down chain-side up before sprinting across the field.
(Photo: Madi Carlson)

Vancouver Parks and Recreation
$260 per week

Bike Clark County is running camps for the City of Vancouver, Washington and the three weeks of 6-9 year old camps still have spots. Kids ride 4-10 miles each day on different field trips to places like Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Pearson Air Museum, the Water Resources Education Center, and Esther Short Park. Kids love these camps so much they take the same camp two weeks back-to-back and return year after year! Personal bikes that pass a safety inspection on the first day of camp are encouraged, but bikes and helmets can be provided.

— Learn more at cityofvancouver.us.

WashCo Bikes
$295 per week

Washington County kids aged 9-12 will love Saddle Up Summer Bike Adventures. The Hillsboro camp is full (but there’s a waitlist), but other cities — Beaverton, Forest Grove, Tigard, and Wilsonville — each have one open one-week camp spaced throughout the summer.

Campers will bike to different programs and activities in 2-5 mile increments, building their fitness levels over the course of the week as they gain riding skills and repair knowledge. Using project-based learning each camp will explore parks, watersheds, and cultural sites in and around the communities of Washington County. In addition to riding, kids will do art, environmental projects, community building activities, play interactive games, and journal about their adventures.

Note: scholarships application are still being accepted online, and no campers will be turned away for lack of resources.

— Learn more at washcobikes.org

YMCA Camp Collins
$835 per week overnight camp

Camp Collins Questers in grades 7-9 leave the comfort of their extraordinary Treetops Village for camp activities each day, including 2-3 hours of a specialty focus. For sessions 1, 3, 5, and 7 (June 23–29 Harry Potter theme, July 7–13 Color Wars theme, July 21–27 Jurassic Adventure theme, and August 4–10 Star Wars theme) Questers can select mountain biking as their specialty (note: Camp Collins does its best to assign each Quester their first or second choice specialty so no guarantee you’ll be biking).

Questers learn basic riding skills, maintenance, and bike safety. They’ll explore the trails of Oxbow Regional Park and enjoy a long trail ride off camp. Bikes and helmets are provided.

— Learn more at ymcacw.org

Did I miss any? Or do you have a fun bike camp story to share in the comments? Thanks for reading!

Remember, we’re always looking for people to profile. Get in touch if it sounds like fun to you. I’d especially like to feature families of color so please get in touch or ask friends of color who bike with their kids if they’re interested in sharing their stories. And as always, feel free ask questions in the comments below or email me your story ideas and insights at madidotcom [at] gmail [dot] com.

— Madi Carlson, @familyride on Instagram and Twitter

BikePortland needs your support.

Plenty of “middle housing” in Montreal is one reason why it’s such a great city for biking.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

One of the most important bills we’ve been tracking this legislative session is hanging in the balance.

House Bill 2001 would allow “missing middle” housing (a.k.a. multi-family dwellings) in places currently zoned for only single-family housing. It would have a vast impact on cycling because it would enable more people to live in closer proximity to jobs and other destinations — making a trip by bike more feasible.

According to advocates who support the bill, the time is now to press legislators to move the bill forward. Below is a message from southeast Portland resident Doug Klotz:

This is the crucial time to make your voice heard in Salem in support of House Bill 2001, Speaker Kotek’s bill to legalize duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes statewide. It would require cities overt 10,000 to allow duplexes everywhere in single-family zones, and triplexes and fourplexes somewhere in those zones as well.

Most Democrats [who hold a super-majority] wants to do the right thing, lift the ban on missing-middle housing and make affordable housing possible in every neighborhood. But they need to know, right now, that you’ve got their back on this. Can you take four minutes to find your state legislators here — you’ve got one senator, one rep — and ask them to support HB2001?

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Those in Southeast Portland and Milwaukie should know that our Senator is Kathleen Taylor (503-986-1721), who is on the fence about it. You could also call Representative Rob Nosse (503-986-1442). I don’t know his position on it. If you’re in other districts, look up your legislator here.

Votes are being counted right now. There’s a hearing Tuesday and it could go either way. It won’t go to the floor unless there are enough votes counted among the members, even those who are not on the committee. Your call could make the difference.

For more information on this bill re-read our past coverage in the related posts below and check out PortlandForEveryone.org/hb2001.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland needs your support.

Return to Earth: Official Trailer. The latest from Anthill Films is a cinematic journey that proves when we lost track of time, we make the most of it. This film is about the simple act of living completely in those moments. A cinematic journey, connected by true-to-life examples set by riders of all ages around the world, who prove that when we lose track of time, we make the most of it.

Find a showing near you. Return to Earth plays in Seattle, like North of Nightfall did, on June 20.

Return to Earth: Official Trailer PR:

We increasingly live in a culture of distraction; constantly conducting our lives through 24/7 connectivity. We feed this attention economy with our most precious resource: our time. Time is either spent wisely or it is just spent. Second after second; minute after minute; moment after moment… they’re all there for the taking.

And, from PinkBike an interview with the makers of the film.

What’s the inspiration for the film?

Everything we do always comes back to the simple idea of trying to inspire people to just get out and ride their bikes. That’s always been the end goal. But there are different ideas behind the films that guide how we try to make that happen. For this film, we were influenced by the idea of digital distraction.

There’s this whole “attention economy” that is constantly trying to create new ways to get us spending as much time staring into our screens and phones as possible. As artists who make digital content designed to get people out on their bikes, we want to be part of a movement that is pushing back against that i.e. if we’re asking for your attention, we better make sure that it’s time well spent. 

The post Return to Earth: Official Trailer Premiers this Week appeared first on Bike Hugger.

This week’s Monday Roundup is sponsored by the Community Cycling Center.

Here are the most noteworthy items we came across in the past seven days…

Upsetting norms: US road champion Justin Williams is in “rebel mode” as he forces the cycling scene to embrace young people of color into a sport that is primarily white.

Cycle of dependency: The venerable Todd Litman of Victoria Transport Policy Institute reminds us about the vicious cycle of automobile dependency — and how to break it.

Brooklyn bike history: Learn about the Brooklyn Red Caps, a group of cycling lovers known for their speed, longevity, and pioneering history as one of the first black bike clubs in New York.

Monkey see, monkey do: ODOT isn’t the only agency using the fallacious argument that wider highways are better for the environment: Thankfully, activists in Baltimore are calling their DOT’s bluff.

Cycling for everyone: Great words of wisdom about breaking down barriers to riding from the perspective of someone who cycles with a disability.

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Density = safety?: A Pennsylvania study found that streets in more dense areas closer-in to the city had lower crash rates than suburban areas.

Facebook bike share workers: The social media giant has a fleet of 1,000 bike share bikes at their Menlo Park campus and the people who keep it running want to unionize to get better treatment.

Carmaker testing helmet impacts: Volvo is (surprisingly) the first company to specifically test how its cars impact bicycle helmets.

More good PR for e-bikes: I continue to be fascinated with how e-bikes will transform what we think about bicycling and the potential they have for urban mobility.

‘Quick build’ is music to my ears: The City of San Francisco isn’t satisfied with business as usual when it comes to building bicycle facilities so they’ve streamlined the political process in order to build them faster.

Tweet of the Week: We can only hope that Portland sees more bus and bike lanes like this in the future…
https://twitter.com/InvestinPlace/status/1135765288287260674

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland needs your support.

If I owned a business on Williams I’d want to celebrate these potential customers too.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Imagine a business district that celebrates cycling and welcomes those who do it with open arms. That’s what we have on North Williams Avenue.

As one of the first major commercial corridors in Portland with dedicated cycling access and the highest volume of riders in the city, I’ve often thought of Williams as the best bike street in Portland. Now Venture Portland and the Williams Vancouver Business Association want to cement that reputation with their monthly Walk Williams event which is set to kickoff next Wednesday June 12th.

According to organizer Dane Fredericks, for one evening a month they’ll roll out the red carpet for bicycle riders and other non-car-using customers with live music, freebies, discounts and more. “We know that biking is a pro-social decision that creates pleasant streets and strengthens our community,” Fredericks shared with us via email. He calls this event, “A monthly summer party on the only main street in Portland where bikes come first.”

Here’s how it’ll work (scroll down for full list of exclusive cycling deals):

Pick up an event passport at participating businesses on each second Wednesday June – October from 4-8pm, eat, shop and play to earn three stickers, and turn your passport in for automatic prizes like beer, chocolate or oysters. Each passport you submit is entered into our grand prize raffle, meaning you can play five Walk Williams, automatically win five monthly prizes and enter five times in the grand prize drawing.

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And here are the cycling-only deals:

GET FREE STUFF
North Portland Wellness Center (4922 N. Vancouver) is giving out free bike seat covers.
JinJu Patisserie (4063 N. Williams) will boost your blood sugar with 2 free bonbons.
Starcycle (4133 N. Williams) will turbocharge your training with a free class card.
Stella’s Kitchen on Williams (4215 N. Williams) is helping you hit your macros with a free Chia Pudding

LEARN NEW THINGS
East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (5211 N. Williams) is offering a free educational urban garden tour for all, but only the cyclists get the free lemonade and cookies.
Poa Café (4025 N. Williams) will help you make and take home your own DIY Slime for $5

HYDRATE
Crisp Salads (3901 N. Williams) will set you up with $3 pints.
Hopworks N. Williams Pub & Beer Garden (3947 N. Williams) will knock $1 off your first beer.
Memoz Dessert Café (3494 N. Williams) has cold brew for just $3.

SCORE DEALS
Fringe & Friends Salon (3508 N. Williams) will offer 25% off any single item.
Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa (4155 N. Williams) is offering member pricing for 30 min massage $34.95 ($20 savings) all summer.
Monochromatic ( N. Williams) will take 20% off a single item.
Namaste On Williams (4201 N. Williams) will discount a 10 class pack for $102 (reg. $140).
Queen Bee Creations (3961 N. Williams) is offering 15% off everything all day on Walk Williams dates
SpielWerk Toys (3808 N. Williams) will give you 10% off your first visit all summer.
TEMPLE GOODS & PDCO+ HOME (3316 N. Williams) will give you 25% off any single item.
Workshop Vintage (4011 N. Williams) is giving out a free button pin and 10% off coupon.

Check out the official website for more info and download the official guide as a PDF below…

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland needs your support.

Volunteers and commuters chat on the western end of the Tillikum Bridge this morning.
(Photos: Eric Thornburg/no.lens.cap)

Breakfast on the Bridges is a proud Portland tradition. It’s been happening for about 16 years and shows no signs of running out of steam — or should I say cream. As in, cream for your coffee.

Coffee is just one of the free treats you can find on the Steel, Tillikum and Hawthorne bridges on the last Friday of every month between 7:00 and 9:00 am. But during Pedalpalooza in the month of June those reliably wonderful Shift volunteers can be found every Friday morning.

This morning our photographer Eric Thornburg caught some of the action on the Tillikum where hot and fresh berry pancakes, muffins, coffee, and smiles were being served to anyone who walked or rolled by.

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Breakfast on the Bridges is one more reason to bike to work. And just one more thing that makes Portland — especially during Pedalpalooza — such a fun place to be. So mark your calendars for June 14th, 21st, and 28th. And leave a few minutes early to make sure you have time to stop, snack, drink, and chat.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland needs your support.

Route is marked in red, via Apex Racing.

Here’s a great idea: Ballard Criterium race organizers Apex Racing are already doing the hard work of securing permits, placing signage and barricades and informing the community about their annual event Saturday. So why not extend the time a few extra hours to create an open streets community event?

That’s exactly what’s happening tomorrow (Saturday) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to play in the streets for two hours before the racing begins. Cascade Bicycle Club is helping to organize activities, including a free 5K fun run by Fleet Feet, a bike rodeo for kids, a scooter share pop-up with Lime and Shared, and live music.

Stay after the open streets party to watch one of the more unique bike races in the city, which has been a tradition for more than a quarter century. Here’s the race schedule:

Proposed design of NE Halsey crossing between 61st and 62nd.

A 1.5 mile stretch of a north-south bikeway along the 60s will be built next fall and the Portland Bureau of Transportation is looking for your feedback on the design.

The bikeway proposed so far is in yellow and blue on the map below. It’s only on 60th for a few blocks and uses 62nd for most of the route…

The main goal of the NE 60th and Halsey Improvement Project is to get Halsey off PBOT’s High Crash Network list and update the outdated intersections at 47th, 57th and 60th. PBOT plans to reconfigure lanes and add new traffic signals that can synchronize traffic along the corridor. Another major component of the project will be the construction of wider sidewalk on 60th from the MAX Station (at I-84) to Halsey.

From a biking perspective, the big opportunity here is for bikeway improvements between NE Davis (in the south) and Sacramento (in the north). PBOT’s initial plan is to remove on-street parking and remove bike lanes on two blocks of 60th between the MAX Station and NE Hassalo. Unfortunately the current plan would drop the bike lanes north of that and divert bicycle users two blocks east to 62nd. The route would rejoin 60th six blocks later at NE Hancock.

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Here’s how PBOT describes the bike-centric elements of the project:

— NE 60th Ave from NE Hassalo to NE Oregon St: 5′-wide bike lanes with 3′-wide buffers to separate cyclists from the vehicle travel lane

— Portions of NE 60th Ave, 61st Ave and NE 62nd Ave: Sharrows, speed bumps, signage, and stop sign changes

— New bike crossings, crosswalks, and curb extensions will be installed at two intersections: NE 60th Ave x NE Oregon St and NE Halsey x NE 61st /62nd Ave.

— On-street parking will be removed from both sides of NE 60th Ave from the south side of NE Hassalo St to NE Oregon St, and within 20’ on the approaches to each intersection along NE Halsey St, NE 60th Ave (south of Halsey), and the 60s Bikeway neighborhood greenway route.

— A new Bike Facility Route will be added to NE Hassalo St from NE 53rd Ave to NE 60th Ave. Improvements will include sharrows, speed bumps, signage, and stop sign changes.

Below is the proposed design of NE 60th crossing at NE Oregon:

And the new bike lanes proposed for 60th between the MAX station and Hassalo:

If you ride, work, or live in this area, please consider sharing your comments and concerns with PBOT via their online open house. They’ll accept comments through Monday, June 24th. Questions about the project can be directed to PBOT Project Manager Nicole Pierce via email nicole.peirce@portlandoregon.gov or (503) 823-6186.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland needs your support.

Rolling out on the start of the 130-mile Sherman route. (I’m the happy guy in red jersey with #14 plate).
(Ride photos by Harry Apelbaum/Apelbaum Studios)

• Co-Motion Cycles
• Ride With GPS
• Mudslinger Events/Oregon Triple Crown
• Rolf Prima Wheels

Ever had a ride that started with terribly bad luck that quickly changed to good luck? That was my experience at the Oregon Gran Fondo last weekend.

The event was the final round of the Oregon Triple Crown series (read my recaps of round one in Waldport and round two in Oakridge) and I started the day hopeful of becoming a finisher of all three. It was a fun goal I made for myself at the start of the year; a way to force myself to stay in good shape and learn more about three of Oregon’s intriguing small towns.

Brewstation Pub is attached to a farm and feed store.

On that note, I was very impressed with Cottage Grove. It happened to be Friday Art Walk and Main Street was abuzz: The many independent stores and restaurants were full of people; musicians busked on corners; and locals came out in droves to meet up with friends, buy and spy local art, and take advantage of free food and drinks served in nearly every establishment.

For such a small town, Cottage Grove has a wealth of good food and shops. Beyond several solid-looking food carts, there’s Axe & Fiddle Public House on Main Street. With its low ceilings, woodsy interior and bar full of smiling staff and regulars up front, it has the ambiance of a wild west saloon. The beer and cider list is sublime and the menu features many thoughtful and modern choices. Across the street is Jack Sprats, which was so busy I opted for quick baked treats from the counter: a house-made marionberry bar and a peanut butter cookie.

I felt welcomed in Cottage Grove because it seemed like every shop had a “Welcome Oregon Gran Fondo” sign in the window and encouraged us to show our race badges for discounts and freebies (event entry came with a $10 food voucher redeemable at any local restaurant). I also noticed a flyer for the “Mayor’s Bike Ride,” a good sign that cycling is respected.

Opal Whiteley mural on E 7th and Main.

Shared with pride by bookstore owner.

If you love used bookstores that reflect local culture, Cottage Grove doesn’t disappoint. I recommend Kalapuya Books and Bookmine. It was inside both of these shops I got my first hint that a woman known as Opal Whiteley was a big deal. My hunch was confirmed when I saw the massive mural devoted to her in the main public square. I had to learn more.

Whiteley was a mysterious figure who gained national fame for a diary she wrote about her life growing up in the woods of Cottage Grove. Despite her story becoming a national bestseller in 1920, there were as many questions about its authenticity as there were about the authenticity of Whiteley herself. As I payed for a copy of The Fantastic Tale of Opal Whiteley, (a historic look at her life published by The Lane Historical Society) the owner of Bookmine was thrilled to see I’d taken an interest. She beamed as showed me one of the original copies of Whiteley’s book and gave me flyers with copies of her poems and a walking map of where she lived.

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After soaking up history and the vibe of downtown Cottage Grove on Friday, I was up at sunrise on Saturday for the 6:30 am start of the 130-mile “Sherman” route. I chose this route mostly because it was the toughest course offered, but also because it was the only one with sections of unpaved, gravel roads. There were only about 20 of us who lined up on East Main Street. The Sherman route was new this year, and the classic, 117-mile Gran Fondo route still gets all the attention.

About six miles into the Sherman route, four miles before disaster struck.
(Ride photos by Harry Apelbaum/Apelbaum Studios)

I had my Co-Motion Klatch set up as a pavement machine, since I heard there was only about 30 miles of gravel roads and I figured I could manage them on relatively narrow tires. I opted for slick, 32mm wide Sector tubeless tires from Hutchinson.

For us Sherman riders, the adventure began just a few miles out of town when we hit the dirt of Gowdyville Road for a 1,000 feet of climbing along the South Fork of the Siuslaw River. It was a beautiful start to the day. On the descent down to Territorial Hwy, I started to think I was a bit under-tired for the day as I had to ride much slower over the rocks then I prefer.

When we retured to the pavement, something weird happened. There were about three of us on the empty road. I was in the front and suddenly another rider came up from behind me on my right and tried to pass. Before I could avoid him his rear wheel became lodged in my front. “SHHHH! BANG BANG BANG! POP!” was what I heard as I struggled to stay upright and watched his rear wheel skewer decimate my front rim and tire. When I finally stopped I knew it was bad. The wheel was done. Spokes bent and broken. The tire flat. Ugh.

Luke DeMoe of Velofix Eugene working on my bike.

A few minutes later, after the guy made a quick apology and then rode away, I was by myself on the side of the road with no cell service. I was dejected that my weekend had been wasted for just 10 miles of riding. I figured I would hitchhike back to Cottage Grove; if I could find a ride.

I could smile at this point because I knew it would all work out.

Then the first sign of changing luck came into view. A truck driven by a race volunteer pulled up and offered a floor pump. Within minutes we realized he could just drive me back to the start line. The Gran Fondo didn’t start until 8:30 am and I’d still have time to find a loaner wheel if we hurried. Flustered but hopeful as we got back to Cottage Grove, I made a bee line to the big red VeloFix Eugene van. Owner/operator Luke DeMoe didn’t hesitate to help. He had a loaner wheel and swapped my parts and tire over. 15 minutes later I was rolling again — with just a few minutes to spare before the start of the Gran Fondo.

It wasn’t the ride I wanted to do, but it wasn’t too shabby. It’s been years since I spent the day in roadie-mode, gliding along in the draft of a big peloton and taking pulls in a paceline. I connected with a strong group of 7-8 riders and spent most of the day with them. We ticked off the miles and averaged about 20 mph or the first 100 miles as we rolled along rivers, on empty backroads, and up on high ridges.

My second start of the day (I’m in the baby blue jersey just right of center. Yes, I changed jerseys because it had warmed up so much.) (Harry Apelbaum/Apelbaum Studios)

(Harry Apelbaum/Apelbaum Studios)

At the end of the day I finished in 32nd place, about 40 minutes behind the winners. 117 miles in six hours and nine minutes; not bad at all! And a testament to the versatility of my bike, which also handles singletrack and bumpy gravel roads with aplomb (with wider tires of course).

It was a great day on the bike and I was grateful to be out there, especially given my bad luck at the start.

If you’re looking for a memorable event with top-notch support based in a town well worth visiting, put the 2020 Oregon Gran Fondo on your calendar. If you’re curious about riding in the area, check out the routes on RideWithGPS.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland needs your support.

Three fresh job opportunities posted this week.

Learn more about each one via the links below…

–> Go By Bike Afternoon Mechanic – Go By Bike

–> Bike Valet Sub – Go By Bike

–> Bike Tour Guide/ Shop Staff – Cycle Portland

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For a complete list of available jobs, click here.

Be the first to know about new job opportunities by signing up for our daily Job Listings email or by following @BikePortland on Twitter.

These are paid listings. And they work! If you’d like to post a job on the Portland region’s “Best Local Blog” two years running, you can purchase a listing online for just $75. Learn more at our Job Listings page.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland needs your support.

The Sprockettes will host their last kids camp this weekend.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Remember how I said last week’s relative quiet was the calm before the storm? Well the storm is here. Pedalpalooza is in full swing and we’ve got a tantalizing selection of rides for you to choose from this weekend.

Whether you’re looking for adventure, activism, pure free fun, or all of the above — check out what’s in store. And remember to peruse the full Pedalpalooza calendar for even more rides.

Ripplebrook Backroads – 9:00 am from Ripplebrook Store in Estacada
If you want to delve deeper into the unpaved roads and trails around Timothy Lake and Clackamas River, this is the ride for you. Let Our Mother the Mountain’s route masterminds take you on an unforgettable adventure. More info here.

Fanno Creek Family Bike Ride – 9:30 am at Garden Home Rec Center (SW)
A very short (two-mile loop) and very sweet ride aimed at being doable for even the newest and smallest riders among your troop. Stops at a playground for extra fun. Come out and discover the great Fanno Creek Trail! More info here.

Sprockettes Girls Day Camp (Sat-Sun) – 10:00 am at Irving Park (NE)
The Sprockettes are a Portland-based mini-bike dance team. They’re hanging up the pink and black or good at the end of this year so this is your final chance to indoctrinate your kids to their wonderful ways. Camp will teach them basic bike dance/stunt skills in a supportive environment. Sliding scale price is $60-$100. More info here.

Beyond Portlandia Radical History Bike Tour – 12:00 pm at Everybody’s Bike Rentals (NE)
Ecology, geology, history and culture! Discover a different side of north/northeast Portland on this 10-mile ride led by knowledgable locals. More info here.

Brooklyn Scavenger Hunt – 1:00 pm at Brooklyn Park (SE)
Have fun while demonstrating your knowledge of the Brooklyn neighborhood as you fulfill interesting objectives and post proof of completion to Twitter. Prizes await the winners and everyone gets to imbibe and eat with new friends at the end. More info here.

Teenage Dirtbag Ride & Party – 8:00 pm at Laurelhurst Park (NE)
What’s Pedalpalooza without big dance party ride? Roll up and rock out with tunes from the likes of Blink, Lit, Len, Green Day, Weezer and all the other “dirtbag classics”. More info here.

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Ghosts of Northeast’s Past: A History Ride – 10:00 am at McMenamins Kennedy School (NE)
Led by historian Doug Decker, this 8-mile ride will regale you with stories of northeast Portland neighborhoods known by only a few and mostly invisible to the untrained eye. More info here.

Mural Ride – 11:00 am at Clay Creative parking lot (SE)
Public art on walls is endlessly fascinating and usually beautiful. If you agree with that statement, get ready to ride your heart out with two fellow mural lovers. More info here.

Sunrise PDX Pedalpalooza Climate Ride! – 11:00 am at PSU Plaza (SW)
Come and join the growing movement that is connecting climate change and transportation reform activists into an unstoppable force. This ride will include a rally with speakers at the Zenith oil terminal just a few short miles from downtown Portland. More info here.

Pregnant AF – 12:00 pm at Normandale Park (NE)
Baby on board? Come join others in the same situation. Bike with your bump on this flat ride that will end in a picnic. More info here.

Get Lost! – 1:00 pm at Velo Cult parking lot (NE)
A Pedalpalooza mainstay, this ride takes the form of whatever the dice say. Seriously. Leader will roll two dice to determine how many blocks left or right to ride. Where you stop and go, nobody knows! More info here.

Stay plugged into all the bike and transportation-related events around the region via our comprehensive event calendar. Pedalpalooza is the entire month of June. Check out the full list of events on the official calendar.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

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BikePortland needs your support.

Work zones are marked in red. They will not all be under construction at the same time. Images from Seattle Parks.

Seattle Parks is getting ready to start fixing bumpy pavement and outdated bollards on some of the oldest sections of the Burke-Gilman Trail between 30th Ave NE (just east of U Village) to the city’s northern border with Lake Forest Park. So be ready for a summer of short detours as crews go section-by-section to complete this work.

Work is scheduled to begin this month. And some of the detours look like they include some tough climbing.

Much of this section of trail has not been paved since the 70s, so we have really gotten a lot out of that investment. But sections of the trail have deteriorated significantly since then either due to erosion or tree roots. In many sections, the trail has lost significant width due to the edges crumbling away over time. We have also learned a lot about trail design and construction since the city first laid this asphalt on top of the old railbed 41 years ago.

Below are the planned detour diagrams from the contractor for each segment. They will not all be in effect at the same time. I have not yet tested them, though some look tough. If you are familiar with these side streets, let us know your thoughts in the comments below (the orientation of the maps switch around, so remember that “streets” are usually east-west and “avenues” are usually north-south):

The document does not note whether the existing protected bike lane on NE 65th Street will be extended to accommodate this detour.

Note: I’m pretty sure that is supposed to be 42nd Ave NE, not NE 142nd Ave. This one looks very tough. Don’t let the map fool you, a section of Riviera Pl is missing, which is why the detour is so long. I hope Parks can finish this one as quickly as possible, because this could be very disruptive for folks who can’t climb that ridge. Perhaps they could finish the south section as quickly as possible, then open a detour to Riviera Pl while they work on the rest?

More details from Seattle Parks:

Seattle Parks and Recreation(SPR) will begin working on repaving 39 sections on the Burke-Gilman Trail in northeast in early June 2019. The work will take place between 30th Ave. NE and the King County/Seattle border near NE 145th St. SPR awarded the construction contract to Northwest Asphalt, Inc. Work is scheduled to be completed by late summer 2019.

This project will repair sections of the trail, remove areas of asphalt in disrepair, remove invasive roots that are causing upheaval, and replace those sections with new asphalt. Additionally, with funding from the Seattle Department of Transportation(SDOT) bollards at 24 intersections along the trail will be removed and sections impacted by bollard removal will be paved. The contractor will work on one section at a time, from southwest to northeast to reduce the impact to trail users.

Trail sections were determined by 2015 condition-assessment work done in collaboration with SDOT and reconfirmed in spring 2017.

Cyclists and pedestrians will be detoured around the construction area onto side streets. SPR and SDOT worked together on detour routes and we recommend trail users visit www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/burke-gilman-trail-repairs for detailed detour routes. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience during construction.

The Seattle Park District provides $250,000 in funding for this Burke-Gilman Trail improvement project. Approved by voters in 2014, the Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding for Seattle Parks and Recreation including maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites.

For more information, please visit www.seattle.gov/parks/about-us/current-projects/burke-gilman-trail-repairs or contact Sandi Albertsen, Project Manager, at sandra.albertsen@seattle.gov or 206-684-8938.

Riders on SW Bond in South Waterfront area.
(Photo: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Sign mock-up from City of Portland.

20 new wayfinding signs are coming to South Waterfront. This week the Portland City Council accepted a $13,460 grant from Metro that was awarded through their Regional Transportation Options program in 2016.

“Simple bike wayfinding signs displaying distance and time to key destinations will help current and would-be riders to understand bicycle accessibility to and from the South Waterfront,” reads a project description. “The signs will be strategically placed at intersections throughout the district , with the southernmost signs encouraging riders to venture to Willamette Park along the rail trail, and the northernmost sign displaying information to ride to Downtown and the Pearl District. Additional signs will direct travelers to the Hooley Bridge, Lair Hill access, and the Tilikum Crossing and access to the Central Eastside.”

Check out a map of where the signs will go below the jump…

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(Map provided by PBOT)

Metro hopes the project will encourage people to get out of their cars and onto their bicycles, resulting in better air quality and less auto parking demand.

A map of sign locations provided by PBOT shows that about half of the 20 new signs will be installed south of the Marquam Bridge, and the other half north of it. The signs will stretch from Waterfront Park at Pine Street in the north to SW Moody and Bancroft in the south.

PBOT says they expect to have all the signs installed by the end of June.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland needs your support.

Look what PBOT did!
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

Southeast Foster Road fans are rejoicing today as their beloved retail strip now has dedicated bike lanes. But that’s not the only east Portland commercial area to get new bike access this month. The Portland Bureau of Transportation says they’re about 99% finished with the much-anticipated Halsey-Weidler Streetscape project.

This $5.5 million project is a partnership between PBOT and Prosper Portland that (similar to Foster), aims to use street design changes to improve safety and boost economic development. The city has made significant updates to Halsey and Weidler between 102nd and 112th. Changes include: curb extensions on every corner, new pavement on Halsey, improved street lighting, median refuge islands, three new crossings with rapid flash beacons, parking protected bicycle lanes, transit stop upgrades, new street trees, a “festival street”, a new public plaza, and more.

I spent about an hour so on the couplet yesterday to talk with folks and watch how the street is being used.

“People hate it,” said the manager of a liquor store near 103rd. “95% of our customers have asked me about it… Mostly they’re upset about the loss of parking. This is the main thoroughfare and they took out like 14 spots.” Upon further discussion, the man said he thinks the changes are, “A good idea,” but that’s just been implemented poorly. He didn’t elaborate on how he thinks it should have been designed; but he said he’s heard of two people (drivers) who have been hit as they stepped out of their cars in the new “floating” parking zone (which puts them in much closer proximity to passing drivers than parking at the curb).

Two people waiting for the bus were thrilled with the changes. I watched one man with a cast on his foot cross where PBOT just installed a curb extension and a median refuge island — essentially reducing the distance across by about 15 feet or so. “I wouldn’t have tried that before with my foot like this,” he said with a smile. “I’m not very fast these days.”

A woman behind the counter of Namaste Indian Market (which is wonderful by the way) had some concerns about parking loss. Her store is adjacent NE 103rd, the street PBOT converted from a parking lot/alleyway into a “festival street”. The idea is to make it more of a public plaza with one-way driving access that could be prohibited (via bollards) during events like farmer’s markets. She wasn’t sure what the plan was and didn’t understand the new bike lane and other changes to the street. Once I explained everything, she agreed it seemed like an improvement that would encourage people to visit the Gateway district and make the streets safer.

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Here are a few of my observations and images to illustrate:

– The transit island just west of 102nd is a marvel: It makes transit service and biking more efficient, there’s plenty of space for bus riders to get on-and-off, and makes for a nice, low-stress welcome to the couplet.

– From what I could see, the changes are working relatively well. People are still getting used to the new striping and lane configuration. And yes, there were several folks who parked in the new bike lane. Hopefully that subsides.

– PBOT really needs to do more to protect these new biking spaces. Whether it’s plastic wands, concrete curbs or both. And maybe “BIKES ONLY” pavement markings, more signage, and a few enforcement actions to drive awareness. If we’re going to call these “protected” bikeways, let’s be honest about it and give people what they deserve.

– Fortunately speeds on the couplet are relatively low, and the median islands and other changes will only make them slower. People on foot now feel more empowered to cross in more locations, which makes people in cars more cautious.

– Now that we have this great bike facility, we need places to park! I had to park to a sign pole because there were no staples in sight. That should never happen!

– One serious problem is how many drivers coming onto the couplet from a sidestreet block the new bike lane as they wait for a gap in traffic (see below). This is a tricky situation and I’m not sure what the solution is, other than signage and pavement markings. Of course if people were more competent and courteous in general — and if cars weren’t such large and awkward vehicles — this wouldn’t be a problem.

– The new Gateway Discovery Park at 106th and Halsey is fantastic! It’s a modern facility with wifi, places to hang out, and lots of cool amenities. And one of the best crossing treatments is right on the corner so it’s very welcoming.

Here’s a video of me riding the entire couplet (has been sped up 2X to save you time)…

But wait, there’s more…

Bike only signal on 102nd is a welcome touch…

Here’s the current status of the festival street/plaza at 103rd…

The problem with parking protected bike lanes is that you feel kind of scrunched between the cars and the curb. Also not wide enough for side-by-side, social cycling…

Another view of the crossing treatment at 106th/Gateway Park…

This is a median-protected crossing enhancement at the off-set intersection of Halsey and 108th…

Beyond the project boundary, we still have some work to do…

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland needs your support.

(Photo: Tigard Police)

A man riding a bicycle on SW Pacific Highway (99W) in Tigard was killed last night after a collision with a driver.

Top star shows where the man’s body came to rest (approximately). The lower star is location of car and bike in lead photo. Click for Google Map.

Tigard Police say the bicycle user was going southbound when he and the driver of a white Mazda Miata collided. It happened just before 8:30 pm. This section of 99W has seven lanes, including two bicycle only lanes and a center turn lane.

Based on a photo from the scene, the bicycle and car came to rest about 560 feet north of the SW Gaarde Street intersection. The victim’s body is about 150 feet away from where the driver finally stopped. Here’s the statement released by Tigard Police:

Based on witness statements and the investigation, the driver of a white, convertible Mazda Miata was traveling southbound on SW Pacific Hwy in the right travel lane. A bicyclist was also traveling southbound on SW Pacific Highway in the bike lane and then entered the right lane. The Miata struck the bicyclist, causing the individual to hit the pavement. By the time officers arrived, the adult-male bicyclist was deceased.

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The driver stayed at the scene and was fully cooperative with investigators. At this time, it has been determined that alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

A Tigard Police Traffic Safety Officer, who is a member of a multi-agency Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team, is leading the investigation to determine the causation of this crash, including whether speed or other factors contributed to this incident.

The victim’s name is being withheld while police work to contact next of kin. If anyone witnessed this crash or the driving of the white Mazda Miata, please contact Officer Rod
Morse at 503-718-2753 or Rod.Morse@tigard-or.gov.

It’s important to note that Oregon Law (ORS 814.420) allows bicycle riders to leave the bicycle lane to make a left turn or to avoid hazardous debris. I will also point out that speed is always a factor in fatal collisions like this because if the driver was going zero miles per hour, the bicycle rider would still be alive.

A woman interviewed by KATU news said the highway is dangerous and people regularly drive 50 mph. Nearby resident and BikePortland reader Ramtin Rahmani rides by this intersection frequently. He told us, “Pretty much no one rides on 99W because it’s a death trap.”

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland needs your support.

The great thing about the bike business these days is there’s a niche for everyone. For those cyclists into having one bike to do it all there’s even a race. Just announced, the Single Steed Challenge is a raffle and an opportunity to prove how an Open can compete on gravel and single track.

From the Best of Both PR

In celebration of our all-new and super-challenging “single steed quiver killer” category—presented by Open Cycles, we are delighted to raffle the all new Open Wi.De

The Wi.DE launched just last week and updates the already very capable U.P. to accept mountain bike tires sizes. The raffle supports Bend based OAS, a nonprofit that facilitates fully equipped recreational programs and events for athletes with disabilities.

Staging at the Wanoga snowpark on the lower slopes of Mount Bachelor, the Best of Both combines 62-miles of epic paved roads, and 23-miles of famed, Bend, single-track, into one stunning 85-mile race course.

Open thinks you can do it on one bike, switching wheel sets perhaps, and so do I. Even before the Wi.DE was announced, I’ve ran fast 32s on my UP and WTB 2.1s for North Cascades single track.

What I’m excited about is dropbar mountain bike is not only back, but better than ever. Why would you want to ride a road bike with mountain bike tires and discs on dirt roads?

Because it’s light, agile, and fast. You’ll have enough tire volume to soak up most of the bumps. And, the best stoke for me comes from picking lines on a double-track, forest service road, and rolling tempo high up in the North Cascades. Where the only interruption is views and wildlife instead of cars and construction in the big city.

I ride for pleasure now, but I understand the competitive spirit and if I was still racing would enter the Best of Both to prove to myself there is one bike to do it all.

The post The Single Steed Challenge from Open appeared first on Bike Hugger.

It should be common sense, but don’t block walkways when you park a bike share bike. But you should also go a step further and think, would this bike impede someone with a vision impairment? Is it too close to a bus stop, curb ramp or building entrance?

Disability rights organization Rooted In Rights partnered with SDOT to produce a short video clearly showing some problems poorly located bikes can cause people with various disabilities. Sometimes users don’t park correctly and sometimes other people or the weather move or knock them over. Either way, if you see a problematic bike, do everyone a favor and move it.

Here’s the parking guide we made to help:

Annotations by Seattle Bike Blog. Base image from SDOT’s draft update for their Right of Way Improvement Manual.

Pretty sure the “BS” stands for bicycle symbol. PBOT still adding some finishing touches to the new lanes.
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)

It’s been about 78 months since we first covered the possibility of dedicated cycling facilities on Southeast Foster Road, a major arterial coined the “Foster Freeway” by former mayor Sam Adams when he launched an attempt to make it safer in 2010.

A few nights ago it finally happened. PBOT striped bike lanes as part of the finishing touches on their $9 million Foster Transportation and Streetscape project.

Fresh pavement in the western section of the project between 82nd and 90th.

The stated goal of the project is to, “Transform Foster Road [between 50th and 90th] from a high speed, auto-oriented corridor into a more balanced streetscape that is safer and more accessible for people walking, biking, taking transit and driving,” and to, “support and enhance the growing mix of businesses and residences in the neighborhood.”

My initial impression is that — despite being outdated, narrow, and unprotected — the bike lanes have helped PBOT reach that goal. The presence of bicycle riders in the street on their own right-of-way dramatically changes how the street feels for everyone. The new lanes also make Foster a more feasible place to ride a bike in general, which will increase customers to businesses, encourage window-shopping by bike, and add vibrancy and humanity to the street.

In addition to the cycling-only space, the $9 million project repaved the street between 82nd and 90th and included: upgrades two traffic signals; wider sidewalks in some sections; new median islands and flashing beacons at six intersections; new street trees and ornamental street lighting; and upgraded ADA curb ramps at 69 locations.

While these bike lanes are clearly lacking from a design standpoint, it is no small thing for PBOT to add cycling space to such a major arterial.

Below are more photos and a video to give you a better sense of how it turned out.

PBOT did that thing where they drop the bike lane right before a big intersection (82nd) to create a shared lane.

Some sections have a buffer, like this one just west of 82nd Ave.

Curbside going westbound. It’s definitely not low-stress and it’s definitely not for everyone; but it’s better than nothing.

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PBOT retained 94% of the on-street parking in this project, so much of the new bike lane is sandwiched between parked cars and drivers.

With one lane for drivers, the back-up was pretty severe yesterday. It will be interesting to see how people respond and how/if diverted drivers impact adjacent residential streets (I saw many people bail off Foster out of frustration at being stopped).

With frequent bus service, leapfrogging will be an issue as bus operators cross over the bike lane to service stops. Really wish they would stop in the lane instead.

A look at the new cross-section.

A buffered section.

This is the section just before 52nd (outside Devil’s Point).

And of course it didn’t take long for people to take advantage of the new space…

Striped just in time for a Pedalpalooza ride last night!
(Photo by Matchu Williams)

PBOT says there will be a ribbon-cutting event next Thursday (6/13) at Portland Mercado.

Get out there, ride these new bike lanes, and let us know what you think.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

BikePortland needs your support.

Photo of the less bumpy plate design from WSDOT.

In what is obviously a birthday present to yours truly, WSDOT announced today that they will fix every bumpy expansion gap plate on the 520 Bridge Trail.

We first reported about the bumpy plates back in 2016 before the trail was completed, then again in 2017. The problem was that the plates covering the floating bridge’s expansion gaps were built with an abrupt incline along the edges, making them feel more like hitting potholes than the more gradual bumps a user might be expecting from a brand new trail.

Luckily, I have not heard of any crashes caused by these plates, as I had feared. But the plates are unpleasant enough that it is worthwhile improving the trail experience on this $4.5 billion public investment.

The agency has been testing a more gradual expansion plate design, and 95 percent of users surveyed said the new design is an improvement.

The new plates should all be installed by the end of summer.

More details from WSDOT:

We asked, you answered and now change is coming to Seattle’s SR 520 Trail across Lake Washington!

You may recall that after some concerns were raised about the steel cover plates on the trail’s expansion joints, we installed a prototype plate designed to ease the bumps that some bicycle riders were reporting. We asked if the new plate, designed by our engineers, was an improvement over the previous plates. And, overwhelmingly, the answer was YES!

More than 260 trail users responded to our survey and provided feedback, and 95 percent said the new plates were an improvement.

Late summer installation
We’re working with our contractor to replace all of the narrow cover plates on the floating bridge portion of the 520 Trail by late summer. This will require several intermittent trail closures and as we get closer to the replacement work we’ll get information out about any disruptions, including on our 520 webpage. We’ll do what we can to avoid high-traffic times in the morning and evening.

Many thanks to everyone for taking the time to test out the new plate and provide their feedback. We’re excited to have found a solution that works for everyone and we’re confident the new cover plate will provide an even smoother trip for those enjoying a bike ride across the SR 520 bridge.